Nonwelding relay



Feb. 24, 1931.

A. F. LAKE 1,793,858

NONWELDING RELAY Filed July 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ww QM M 4 w g 52 BY ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1931. A. F. LAKE NONWELDING RELAY Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1927 IN VEN TOR.

-TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed 31117 a,

This invention relates to electric switches and especiall relay switches of the quick break type, w ich are adapted to be actuated by an alternating current.

The object of the present invention 15 to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of relay switches; to provide a switch of the character described in which alternating current vibrations ma be entirely eliminated; to provide a switc in which the contacts are self-aligning; to provide a switch which is interlocking to prevent two circuits from being closed at the same time, and further to provide a switch in which the circuit contacts are operated by grav1ty, plus spring action, and in which a hammer action is obtained in the moment when separation of the contacts takes place.

The relay switch isshown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings m which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the relay sw tch, said view being broken away to show parts of the mechanism in section.

Fi 2 is a side elevation of the relay SWltCi.

Fig. 3 is a front view showmg the lower portion of the relay switch.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line IV-IV, Fig. 1. U

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a IIlOdlfiBd form of the switch. I

Fi 6 ,is a side elevation of the modified switc shown in Fig. 5, said side elevation being partially in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and

articularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A ind cates a use plate preferably constructed of 1nsulating material upon which 1s supported a solenoid magnet B. Suitably secured to the lower face of the base plate A are a pair of circuit contact members 2 and 3. Also secured to the lower face of the base plate are -a pair of guide rods, 4-4, and slidably mounted thereon is a plate, 5, on which is mounted a pair of circuit closing contacts, 2 and 3. The lower ends of the guldes i, are provided with shoulders or num, as lndicated at 6, and downward movement of the plate 5 upon the rods 4 is accordingly limited.

ing of a circuit through the wires 20 1927. Serial No. 208,893.

Mounted within the solenoidmagnet is a guide tube 7 which is made of brass, or similar non-magnetic material. of the tube projects slightly above the upper end of the magnet and it is provided with a cap 8. Mounted in the upper end of the tube s a core member 9, which is shouldered, as indicated at 10, to engage the upper end-of the tube 7 and interposed betweenthe upper shouldered end and the nut 8' is a spring 11. Projecting into the lower end of the tube 7 IS a movable core member or armature rod 12. The lower end of the armature member is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 13, and it projects through the plate 5. A nut 14 ismounted on the lower reduced end of the armature and a sprin 15 and washer 16 is supported thereby. no or more washers, such as indicated at 17 is interposed between a shoulder 18 on the armature and the upper face of the plate 5 and these washers merely serve the function of buffers, as will hereinafter be described.

The relay switch shown in the present instance may be used for a number of different purposes. For instance, fic si nals and the like. Where the relay switch is employed in conjunction with a traflic signal, the circuit through the magnet B is controlled from some remote source. An alternating current is usually employed and the current enters the magnet throu h wires generally indicated at 20 and 21. he closand 21 causes encrgization o the core 9 and the armature 12 and the armature is accordingly attract/ed or lifted upwardly into the magnet into engagement with the core member 9. During the upward movement of the armature washers 16 engages the lower face of the plate 5 and the plate, together with the con" tacts 2* and 3 are accordingly lifted upwardly into engagement with the contacts 2 and 3. Spring 15 is placed under a slight compression during this upward movement and so is the spring 11. This is important as the compression of the springs 11 and 15, serves two functions: first, that of smooth ing out or substantially eliminatin alternating current vibrations and second y, that of The upper end for operating trafimparting a rapid or impelling movement to the armature 12 when the magnet is deenergized. Engagement on the contacts 2, 2 and 3 and 3 may serve the functions of closing a local circuit, for instance that reuired for the operation of a trafiic signal.

his circuit remains closed as long as the circuit through the magnet remains closed and it is automatically broken when the magnet circuit is broken, due to the fact that the magnet B becomes de-energized the moment the main actuating circuit through the wires 20 and 21 isbroken. Breaking of the main actuating circuit releases the armature 12 and it accordingly drops by gravity. In addition thereto, its downward movement is accelerated, due to the sudden release of the compressed springs 11 and 15. The downward movement of the armature is accordingly rapid and shoulder 18 strikes the buffer washer 17 on the upper face of the plate 5 with what may be termed a hammer-like blow. This is also important, as it is found in actual practice that the contacts often have a tendency I to weld. Any welding action which may have taken place while the contacts were in engagement with each other is of no consequence v in the present instance, as the hammer-like blow imparted by the shoulder 18 is suflicient to break the weld and thus permit the plate 5, together with the cont-acts 2 and 3 to drop by gravity against the stop shoulders or nuts 6. The breaking action of the contacts when separated is mizordingly positive and rapid, and flashing or formation of arcs is also prevented.

In actual practice it is usually found that one set of contacts will burn away at a more rapid rate than another set of contacts and difficulty is often encountered in properly aligning the contacts. In the present instance, this is taken care of by providing a loose fit between the plate 5 and the guide rods 4 and similarly by providing a loose fit between the armature rod extension 13 and the plate 5. That is the plate 5 may tilt, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, to a considerable degree, thus permitting automatic alignment, if one set of contacts should burn away more rapidly than the opposite set of contacts.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a slight modification of the relay switch is shown. In this instance it is desired to control two difierent sets of traflic signals. For instance, one signal to show green or right-of-way and the second signal to show red or stop. "Two solenoid magnets are required in that instance, these being indicated at C and D supported by the magnets is a plate 30 and mounted at opposite ends thereof are contacts such as indicated at 31 and 32 and 33 and 34. Pivotally mounted, as at 35, centrally of the plate 30 is a rocker member 36 and supported thereby is a plate 37 and a pair of contact arms 38 and 39. The contact arm 38 carries cooperating contacts 31'- and 33 and the arm 39 carries cooperating contacts 32" and 34:. A rocking movement is imparted to the rocker member 36 the plate 37 and the arms 38 and 39 through means of the magnets C and D and armature members C and D co-operating therewith. These armature members are shouldered, as indicated in 18. Small coil springs 40 are interposed between the shoulder 18* and the lower face of the plate 37 and larger coil springs 41 are inter osed between the upper face of the plate 3 and nuts 42 mounted on the upper ends of the armature members.

In actual operation the magnets C and D will be controlled from a main actuating circuit, just as the magnet illustrated in Fig. 1. After the magnet D is energized its armature D will be attracted or pulled downwardly into the magnet. This downward movement of the armature imparts a rocking movement to the rocker 36, the plate 37 and.the' arms 38 and 39 thereby bringing the contacts 33, 33 and 34 into engagement with each other. It will at the same time cause the cooperating spring 41 to be placed under compression, this being important, as the compression of this spring is relied upon to obtain a quick break and also to produce a hammer action similar to that described in connection with the relay shown in Fig. 1. That is the decnergization of the magnet D releases the cooperating armature D. The compression of the springs 41 imparts an impelling movement to the armature D in an upward direction. The shoulder 18? will during this rapid upward movement, impart a hammer-like action to the spring 40 and if any welding has taken place between the contacts it will be broken and the rocker 36, together with the plate 37 and the arms 38 and 39, will return to normal position. Another important feature of the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is what may be termed an interlocking feature. That is, two different circuits cannot be closed at the same time. If the magnet C is energized, contacts 31 and-3l and contacts 32 and 32 will be closed, while energization of the magnet D will cause the opposite con tacts to be closed. The two separate circuits controlled by the several contacts can accordingly not be closed at the same time.

The type of switch shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may he supported entirely by the plate indicated at 30, while the type of switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be supported by a plate, such as indicated at 50., this plate in turn forming a support for the base plate A and the several terminal posts indicated at 51, 52 etc.

\Vhile certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that varying changes in design and construction maybe resorted to within the scope of the masses 3 appended claim. I similarly wish it understood that the material and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand. Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the'character described the w combination with a solenoid ma et and a base plate by which it is supporte of a air of stationary contacts secured to the ase plate, a pair of guide rods secured to the base plate, a contact plate slidably mounted thereonand having a pair of contacts aligning with the stationary contacts, sto members on thelower ends of the guide ro s and supporting the contact plate in a position where the contact members are out of contact with 23 each other, a guide tube in the magnet, a rod shaped armature member extendin through the contact plate and into the gui e tube of the magnet and guided solely by said members, a shoulder on the armature rod whereby 25 the armature is supported by the contact plate, said armature having an extension rod of considerable length extending below the contact plate, and a s rin supported on the lower end of the rod and disposed at considerable distance below the contact plate,

said spring adapted to engage the contact plate and lift it into engagement with the stationa contacts when the magnet is energized an the armature is lifted thereb ,said a: spring also adapted to be compressed uring the lifting movement of the armature so as to impart a rapid downward movement to the armature rod in the opposite direction upon de-energization of the magnet and to cause the shoulder on the armature rod to strike the contact plate with a hammer-like blow to insure separation of the contacts if welded.

' ALLAN F. LAKE. 

